Limit of recovery: How future evolution of ore grades could influence energy consumption and prices for Nickel, Cobalt, and PGMs

Magdalena, R. ; Valero, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Calvo, G. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: The unique properties of certain metals have made them indispensable in manufacturing advanced technological devices and for use in the green economy. However, these metals are not infinite, and the average ore grades in mines have been decreasing in recent decades. This study examines energy consumption as a function of ore grade decline for Nickel, Cobalt, and platinum group metals (PGMs), using simulations created with HSC Chemistry software. A limit of recovery (LOR) for each commodity was also defined. A comparative analysis of the evolution of ore grades, energy costs, and market prices was additionally carried out. According to the simulations, extracting nickel from sulfide ore tailings would be profitable if the price doubled. As for Cobalt, it would only be feasible if the market price increased considerably. For PGMs, even if the ore grade reached the LOR, it would still be profitable to recover them under certain circumstances explored in the paper.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108150

Año: 2023

Publicado en: Minerals Engineering 200 (2023), 108150 [11 pp.]
ISSN: 0892-6875

Factor impacto JCR: 4.9 (2023)

Categ. JCR: ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL rank: 39 / 170 = 0.229 (2023) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: MINING & MINERAL PROCESSING rank: 5 / 32 = 0.156 (2023) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: MINERALOGY rank: 3 / 30 = 0.1 (2023) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 8.7 - Control and Systems Engineering (Q1) - Chemistry (all) (Q1) - Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology (Q1) - Mechanical Engineering (Q1)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.027 - Chemistry (miscellaneous) (Q1) - Mechanical Engineering (Q1) - Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology (Q1) - Control and Systems Engineering (Q2)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2020-116851RB-I00

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Didáctica Ciencias Exper. (Dpto. Didácticas Específicas)
Área (Departamento): Área Máquinas y Motores Térmi. (Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica)